Apparatus for adjusting the position of an earth moving blade

ABSTRACT

A blade and mount that allows the blade angle to be adjusted without allowing the blade to either interfere with other parts of a prime mover to which it is attached, or requiring the blade to be positioned further from the center of the chassis of such prime mover. The blade is constructed using a unique arrangement of apertures on a connection structure so that it can be mounted to any machine in a manner that allows the blade angle to be adjusted while maintaining clearance to more than a single component.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0001] Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to machines for excavating soils as necessary in construction projects. More specifically it relates to a machine that is adapted specifically for excavations with a blade attachment for replacing soils previously excavated and additionally for contouring the surface.

[0003] Machines have been developed for general excavation, and are generally known as Excavators, an example being a mini-excavator 110 as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. The mini-excavator 110 has evolved to include 2 basic parts, an undercarriage or chassis 112 and turret/turntable 116. The undercarriage 112 includes the main frame 111 and typically tracks 113. It supports the turret/turntable 116 and typically also supports a backfill blade 130.

[0004] Backfill blade 130 is supported on frame 134, which is mounted to the main frame 111, rotating about axis 136, and is positioned with cylinder 132.

[0005] The upper structure, turret or turntable 116 includes the power unit, typically a diesel engine and hydraulic system, the operator's station 114, and a backhoe 120 mounted on a pivot 122. The turntable, it is able to rotate fully, mounted to the undercarriage 112 at the swivel joint, supported by a slew bearing. The swivel joint supports the turret 116 and further provides a valve to provide a flow path for oil to be transferred from the pump, a component of the power unit, to the track drive motors and cylinder that positions the backfill blade 130. This valve is constructed to allow the turret to rotate freely.

[0006] The operator's station 114 is mounted on the turret 116, and the pivot 122 for the backhoe 120 is positioned directly in front of the operator's station. This arrangement provides good visibility of the backhoe 120. As can be seen in FIG. 2 the backfill blade 130 is positioned close to the turret 116. Positioning the backfill blade as illustrated is desirable for several functional reasons.

[0007] The use of blades is common on many types of machines. The mounting structure often includes the ability to adjust the angle of the blades relative to the machine chassis. Looking at a top view, blades are known to pivot about an axis to control what is referred to as the blade angle, for instance as defined in SAE J/1SO 7134 for Graders. The control of the blade angle allows the blade to engage the soils in a way that the material is moved in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the machine. This angled positioning of the blade greatly enhances the utility of a blade.

[0008] Prior art excavators have not provided control of the blade angle, at least partially due to the need to position the blade close to the center of gravity of the machine. There is a need for an adjustable blade that can be mounted to an excavator.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] According to the present invention there is provided a modification to a mini-excavator, providing a blade and mount that allows the blade angle to be adjusted without allowing the blade to either interfere with the turret, or requiring the blade to be positioned further from the center of the chassis.

[0010] An additional object of the present invention is to provide a blade that can be mounted to any machine in a manner that allows the blade angle to be adjusted while maintaining clearance to more than a single component.

[0011] Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a prior art machine adapted for general excavation known as a mini-excavator;

[0013]FIG. 2 is a top view of a prior art machine adapted for general excavation known as a mini-excavator;

[0014]FIG. 3 is a partial bottom isometric view of a prior art machine adapted for general excavation known as a mini-excavator;

[0015]FIG. 4 is a partial bottom isometric view of a mini-excavator configured with a mount for a backfill blade of the present invention;

[0016]FIG. 5 is a top view of a mini-excavator of the present invention and a backfill blade of the present invention;

[0017]FIGS. 5a-5 d are top views illustrating the backfill blade of the present invention in a variety of positions;

[0018]FIG. 6 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the backfill blade of the present invention;

[0019]FIGS. 7a-7 d are top views illustrating the backfill blade of the present invention in a variety of positions;

[0020]FIG. 8 is a top view of an alternate embodiment similar to the embodiment of FIG. 6, but forming the connection structure with two plates instead of four; and

[0021]FIG. 9 is a view along line 9-9 of FIG. 8 showing the double plates embodiment of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] Referring now to the drawings, like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views. The included drawings reflect the current preferred and alternate embodiments. There are many additional embodiments that may utilize the present invention. The drawings are not meant to include all such possible embodiments.

[0023] The backfill blade 200 illustrated in FIG. 4 is adapted to mount onto the blade frame 234 of excavator 110 in a manner that provides the ability for the blade angle to be adjusted. The blade frame 234 is mounted to main frame 111 in the same as that shown in the prior art, including the ability to rotate about pivot axis 136. The blade frame 234 is raised and lowered with the same lift cylinder 132, not shown in this figure, in order to control the height of the blade, or the depth of cut.

[0024] Blade frame 234 includes two apertures or holes 236 and 238, each defining an axis of rotation. Blade 200 includes first and second pairs of mating arcuate plates 202 a -202 b and 204 a-204 b each spaced to fit over the blade frame 234. Each pair of mating arcuate plates further includes respective paired apertures 210 a-210 b and 220 a- 220 b. This relationship is shown in FIG. 6.

[0025]FIG. 5 further illustrates the blade 200 with plates 202 a and 204 a. Each plate includes a pivot aperture or hole, 210 a and 220 a respectively. These pivot apertures or holes 210 a and 220 a are spaced apart a distance D1 which corresponds to the distance between apertures 238 and 236 in blade mount frame 234.

[0026] Each arcuate plate includes additional holes. Plate 202 a includes additional apertures or holes 212 a, 214 b, and 216 c. Plate 204 a includes additional apertures or holes 222 a, 224 a and 226 a. These additional holes are located on an arc, centered about the pivot hole 210 a or 220 a in the opposite plate 202 a or 204 a as is best shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 6 also shows that holes 212 a, 214 b, and 216 c are located on an arc about hole 220 a, while holes 222 a, 224 a, and 226 a are located on an arc about hole 210 a. Referring to FIG. 4 it can be seen that for each hole 222 a, 224 a, and 226 a in plate 204 a there is a corresponding hole directly below it respectively in plate 204 b. For each hole 212 a, 214 a, and 216 a in plate 202 a there is a corresponding hole directly below it respectively in plate 202 b.

[0027]FIGS. 5a-5 d illustrate the blade installed onto the blade mount frame 234. In FIG. 5a the blade is mounted at an angle of 0. A first pin, not shown, is inserted through hole 210 a in plate 202 a, through aperture 236 of blade mount frame 234, and through hole 210 b of plate 202 b. A second pin, not shown, is inserted through hole 220 a of plate 204 a, through aperture 238 of blade mount frame 234, and through hole 220 b of plate 204 b. Both pins are then secured. In order to adjust the blade angle the second pin is removed, and the blade 200 rotated about the center of aperture 236 until the hole 222 a aligns with aperture 238. The second pin is then reinserted and secured, thus securing the blade 200 at a first blade angle as illustrated in FIG. 5b. This process can be repeated to increase the blade angle by aligning hole 224 a with aperture 238 and reinserting the pin as illustrated in FIG. 5c, or by aligning hole 226 a with aperture 238 and reinserting the pin as illustrated in FIG. 5d.

[0028] The blade can be angled in the opposite direction by leaving the second pin installed through holes 220 a, aperture 238, and hole 220 b, defining a pivot axis shown in FIG. 5a, while aligning holes 210 a, 212 a, 214 a or 216 a with the aperture 236. This will allow the angle of blade 200 to be substantially opposite to the respective angle of blade 200 shown in FIGS. 5b-5 d.

[0029] The geometry of the holes as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 illustrates that the blade 200 can only pivot around one axis at a time, either the axis of holes 236, 210 a and 210 b or the axis about holes 238, 220 a and 220 b.

[0030]FIGS. 7a-7 d illustrate the blade installed onto the blade mount frame 234. In FIG. 7a the blade is mounted at an angle of zero (0). A first pin, not shown, is inserted through hole 1210 a in plate 1202 a, through aperture 236 of blade mount frame 234, and through hole 1210 b of plate 1202 b. A second pin, not shown, is inserted through hole 1220 a of plate 1204 a, through aperture 238 of blade mount frame 234, and through hole 1220 b of plate 204 b. Both pins are then secured.

[0031] In order to adjust the blade angle, the second pin is removed and the blade 1200 is rotated about the center of aperture 236 until the hole 1222 a aligns with aperture 1238. The second pin is then reinserted and secured, thus securing the blade 1200 at a first blade angle as illustrated in FIG. 7b. This process can be repeated to increase the blade angle by aligning hole 1224 a with aperture 238 and reinserting the pin as illustrated in FIG. 7c, or by aligning hole 1226 a with aperture 238 and reinserting the pin as illustrated in FIG. 7d.

[0032] This procedure described in the two paragraphs above with respect to FIGS. 7a-7 d is substantially the same for arranging blade 200 in these same orientations by only using the holes 210 a and 210 b of plates 202 a and 202 b respectively.

[0033]FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate another embodiment wherein two plates are used instead of four arcuate plates. FIGS. 8 and 9 show the blade 2200 with plates 2202 a and 2202 b. Plate 2202 a includes a pivot holes, 2210 a and 2220 a respectively. These pivot holes 2210 a and 2220 a are spaced apart a distance D1 which corresponds to the distance between apertures 238 and 236 in blade mount frame 234.

[0034] Each plate 2202 a and 2202 b includes additional holes. Plate 2202 a includes additional holes 2212 a, 2214 b, and 2216 c. Plate 2202 a includes additional holes 2222 a, 2224 a and 2226 a. These additional holes are located on an arc, centered about the pivot hole 2210 a or 2220 a in the opposite side just like the relationship of holes shown in FIG. 6.

[0035]FIG. 8 also shows that holes 2212 a, 2214 b, and 2216 c are located on an arc about hole 2220 a, while holes 2222 a, 2224 a, and 2226 a are located on an arc about hole 210 a. Referring to FIG. 9 and comparing it to FIG. 4 of the first embodiment it can be appreciated that for each hole 2222 a, 2224 a, and 2226 a in plate 2204 a there is a corresponding hole directly below it respectively in plate 2204 b. For each hole 2212 a, 2214 a, and 2216 a in plate 2202 a, there is a corresponding hole directly below it respectively in plate 2202 b.

[0036] Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. 

We claim:
 1. An excavator comprising: (a) an undercarriage comprising a backfill blade lift pivot; and (b) a backfill blade frame pivotally mounted to the undercarriage to pivot about the backfill blade lift pivot comprising two apertures substantially perpendicular to the backfill blade pivot that define angle pivot axes for a backfill blade.
 2. An excavator as in claim 1 further comprising: (a) a backfill blade comprising a first plate with a first aperture defining a first pivot axis; a second arcuate plate with a first aperture defining a second pivot axis at a first distance from the first aperture in the first plate; the second arcuate plate with a second aperture defining a second locating axis at the first distance from the first aperture in the first plate
 3. The excavator as in claim 2 further comprising the first plate including an arcuate portion with a second aperture defining a second locating axis at the first distance from the second pivot axis in the second arcuate plate.
 4. A backfill blade comprising: a) a first plate with a first aperture defining a first pivot axis; b) a second arcuate plate with a first aperture defining a second pivot axis at a first distance from the first aperture in the first plate; c) the second arcuate plate with a second aperture defining a second locating axis at the first distance from the first aperture in the first plate.
 5. The backfill blade as in claim 2 further comprising the first plate including an arcuate portion with a second aperture defining a second locating axis at the first distance from the second pivot axis in the second arcuate plate.
 6. An excavator comprising: a) an undercarriage; b) a backfill blade frame operatively pivotally attached to the undercarriage about a substantially horizontal axis; c) a backfill blade; d) a connecting structure operatively attached to the backfill blade for attaching the backfill blade to the backfill blade frame, said connection structure further comprising: d) a first pivotal connection between the frame and the connecting structure about a second axis substantially transverse to the horizontal axis; e) a second pivotal connection between the frame and the connecting structure about a third axis substantially transverse to the horizontal axis; f) the blade being in a first position substantially parallel to the horizontal axis when the first and second pivotal connections are attached to the backfill blade frame; g) the blade being in a second position when the blade is pivoted about the first pivotal connection from the first position thereof and fixed at a position different than the first position thereof; and h) the blade being in a third position when the blade is pivoted about the second pivotal connection from the first position thereof and fixed at a position different than the first or second positions thereof.
 7. A blade apparatus adapted to be attached to a prime mover of a type having a frame with a first opening 236 disposed along a first axis and a second opening 238 disposed along a second axis substantially parallel to the first axis, said blade apparatus comprising: an elongated blade 200 extending which is disposed transversely with respect to a direction of forward travel of the prime mover; attachment structure operatively attached to the blade, said attachment structure having a first aperture 210 a disposed around a third axis which can be aligned with said first axis and a second aperture 220 a disposed around a fourth axis which can be aligned with said second axis when the blade is in a first operative position; a first pin disposed through the first opening in the frame and the first aperture in the attachment structure when the blade is in the first operative position (FIGS. 5a, 7 a); a second pin disposed through the second opening in the frame and the second aperture in the attachment structure when the attachment structure is in the first operative position thereof; said attachment structure having a third aperture 222 a disposed about a fifth axis, said fifth axis being substantially the same distance from the third axis as the distance between the third axis and the fourth axis; and said blade having a second operative position (FIGS. 5b, 7 b) wherein the first axis and the third axis are aligned and the first pin is disposed through the first hole 236 in the frame and the first aperture 210 a in the attachment structure and the second axis and the fifth axis are substantially aligned and the second pin is disposed through the second opening 238 and the third aperture 222 a.
 8. The blade apparatus of claim 7 wherein said attachment structure has a fourth aperture (224 a) disposed about a sixth axis, said blade having a third operative position (FIGS. 5c, 7 c) wherein the first axis and the third axis are aligned and the first pin is disposed through the first hole 236 in the frame and the first aperture 210 a in the attachment structure and the second axis and the sixth axis are substantially aligned and the second pin is disposed through the second opening 238 and the fourth aperture 224 a, said sixth axis being substantially the same distance from the third axis as the distance between the third axis and the fourth axis.
 9. The blade apparatus of claim 8 wherein said attachment structure has a fifth aperture (226 a) disposed about a seventh axis, said blade having a fourth operative position (FIGS. 5c, 7 c) wherein the first axis and the third axis are aligned and the first pin is disposed through the first hole 236 in the frame and the first aperture 210 a in the attachment structure and the second axis and the seventh axis are substantially aligned and the second pin is disposed through the second opening 238 and the fifth aperture 226 a, said seventh axis being substantially the same distance from the third axis as the distance between the third axis and the fourth axis.
 10. The blade apparatus of claim 9 wherein said attachment structure has a sixth aperture (212 a) disposed about an eighth axis (FIG. 6), said blade having a fifth operative position (not shown but a mirror image of FIG. 5b) wherein the second axis and the fourth axis are aligned and the second pin is disposed through the second hole 238 in the frame and the second aperture 220 a in the attachment structure and the first axis 236 and the eighth axis 212 a are substantially aligned and the first pin is disposed through the first opening 236 and the sixth aperture 212 a, said eighth 212 a axis being substantially the same distance from the fourth axis 220 a as the distance between the third axis 210 a and the fourth axis 220 a.
 11. The blade apparatus of claim 10 wherein said attachment structure has a seventh aperture (214 a) disposed about a ninth axis (FIG. 6), said blade having a sixth operative position (not shown but a mirror image of FIG. 5c) wherein the second axis and the fourth axis are aligned and the second pin is disposed through the second hole 238 in the frame and the second aperture 220 a in the attachment structure and the first axis 236 and the ninth axis 214 a are substantially aligned and the first pin is disposed through the first opening 236 and the seventh aperture 214 a, said ninth 214 a axis being substantially the same distance from the fourth axis 220 a as the distance between the third axis 210 a and the fourth axis 220 a.
 12. The blade apparatus of claim 11 wherein said attachment structure has an eighth aperture (216 a) disposed about a tenth axis (FIG. 6), said blade having a seventh operative position (not shown but a mirror image of FIG. 5d) wherein the second axis 238 and the fourth axis 220 a are aligned and the second pin is disposed through the second hole 238 in the frame and the second aperture 220 a in the attachment structure and the first axis 236 and the tenth axis 216 a are substantially aligned and the first pin is disposed through the first opening 236 and the eighth aperture 216 a, said tenth 216 a axis being substantially the same distance from the fourth axis 220 a as the distance between the third axis 210 a and the fourth axis 220 a.
 13. The blade apparatus of claim 7 including a respective aperture in the attachment structure below each respective one of said first, second and third apertures whereby the first, second and third apertures will be above the frame and the respective apertures will be below the frame so that the first and second pins can extend in such apertures in which they are disposed above and below the frame.
 14. An excavator comprising: a) an undercarriage; b) a backfill blade frame operatively pivotally attached to the undercarriage about a substantially horizontal axis; c) a backfill blade; d) a connecting structure operatively attached to the backfill blade for attaching the backfill blade to the backfill blade frame, said connection structure further comprising: d) a first pivotal connection between the frame and the connecting structure about a second axis substantially transverse to the horizontal axis; e) a second pivotal connection between the frame and the connecting structure about a third axis substantially transverse to the horizontal axis; f) means for adjusting the blade between a first position substantially parallel to the horizontal axis when the first and second pivotal connections are attached to the backfill blade frame and a second position when the blade is pivoted about the first pivotal connection from the first position thereof and fixed at a position different than the first position thereof; and h) means for selectively locking the blade in the first or second position thereof.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14 including means for moving the blade to a third position whereby the blade is pivoted about the second pivotal connection from the first position thereof and fixed at a position different than the first or second positions thereof.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said locking means is also for selectively locking the blade in the third position. 